Govt Slashes Incentive Allowance by 50 Percent for Healthcare Workers

JAKARTA, NusaBali.com

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati cut the incentive allowance for healthcare workers handling the Covid-19 pandemic by 50 percent.

The incentive allowance is paid monthly until December 2021 and can be extended, the minister stated. "It can be extended again in the event of new policies related to the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic," Indrawati wrote in a letter addressed to the health minister that was released here on Thursday (4/1/2021).

Based on the Finance Minister’s latest letter Number S-65 / MK.02 / 2021, dated February 1, 2021, specialist doctors receive incentives of Rp 7,5 million per person per month (OB); participants of the Specialist Doctor Education Program (PPDS), Rp 6.250.000 per OB; general practitioners and dentists, Rp 5 million per OB; midwives and nurses, Rp 3.750.000 per OB; and other healthcare workers, Rp 2,5 million per OB.

Earlier, Decree of the Minister of Health Number HK.01.07 / MENKES / 278/2020, signed by former health minister Terawan Agus Putranto on April 27, 2020, stipulated that the incentive allowance per OB for specialist doctors was Rp 15 million; general practitioners and dentists Rp 10 million; midwives and nurses Rp 7,5 million; and other medical personnel Rp 5 million per person per month.

Meanwhile, compensation for fallen healthcare workers remained the same, at Rp 300 million per person. Speaking in connection with the matter, Director General of Budget at the Ministry of Finance, Askolani, stated that the Ministry of Finance had always forged coordination with the Ministry of Health.

"The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health are still calculating the details of the detailed spending plan during such dynamic developments, so that support for Covid-19 handling can be fulfilled in 2021," he remarked.

On the other hand, the 2021 National Economic Recovery (PEN) budget, has, in fact, increased to Rp 619 trillion, from Rp 533,1 trillion earlier. Allocation for the health budget in PEN 2021 is planned to reach Rp 104,7 trillion.